Christmas in New Harmony 2015

Christmas in New Harmony was two weeks ago. What a fantastic show! Traffic was great, people were having fun and the weather couldn’t be better! I have been crazy busy since and am running behind on everything it seems now, including posting about this great show.

I wanted to show you a little bit of everyone’s work that was in the Rapp-Owen Granary which holds the Artisan’s Market. The Artisan’s Market is where the fine arts are located.

We’ll start with to the right of my booth and work my way around. Directly to my right was my friend Tom Wintczak the potter and owner of Bee Tree Pottery. Look at the backdrop behind Tom, why it’s my paintings! haha… While I took pics of everyone, I neglected any good shots of my own or of me. Oh well. Back to Tom…

Tom Wintczak in front of his booth

Tom’s Redware early American pottery

More of Tom’s pottery

Redware Christmas ornaments by Tom Wintczak

Next to Tom was a sweet and talented married couple, Ron and Carole Leonhardt of Evansville, IN. They’re still working on a web presence but Carole tells me a Facebook page for the both of them is on their list of things to do. Ron is a watercolor painter and Carole does weaving. Carole had soft and wonderfully colored scarves she had made. Ron had both abstract and traditional landscapes for sale. I especially liked his abstracts.

Artists, Ron and Carole Leonhardt

Carole’s woven scaves

Ron Leonhardt and a few of his paintings. The one on the left is my favorite.

I loved this purple scarf by Carole Leonhardt

More of Carole’s beautiful woven scarves

Across from Carole and Ron was French Ridge Pottery by Roberta Gayer of Tell City, Indiana. She had colorful, funky and fun pottery. Just look at the hilarious face on the jug below Robbie’s photo.

Roberta Gayer of French Ridge Pottery

Don’t you just love this jug face?!

French Ridge Pottery

All kinds of funky and useful items by French Ridge Pottery

French Ridge Pottery

Behind Roberta was a very busy jewelry booth with a very cool name. Michael Gaines is the artist and designer of Blue Blood Black Sheep. Michael was a hoot and I just loved his work. His Secret Message Bracelets were flying off the rack. Michael lives and creates his jewelry in Henderson, Kentucky. My favorite piece was the stunning teal and black necklace below.

Michael Gaines of Blue Blood Black Sheep Jewelry

*Swoon* Isn’t this a stunner!

The Secret Message Bracelet by Blue Blood Black Sheep Jewelry

Next to Michael was another painter. Painted by Patty by Patricia K. Beagle had the sweetest votives and egg ornaments with little birds painted on them among other beautiful painted lovelies like little wooden bird houses. Patty was here last year for Christmas in New Harmony and has since come up with many more pieces of art for sale. Patty doesn’t have a website yet, but if you’re interested in her work you can email her at pbeagleusi [at] hotmail.com.

Here’s Patty Beagle in front of all her goodies

Look how it glows!

These little guys flew off her display! This was the last one of the eggs she had made for the show.

To the left of Loom Hall was the entertainment of the weekend! Music by Elaine. We had the absolute pleasure to get to listen to the sweet and soothing sounds of a harp, violin and acoustic guitar by a father and daughter duo, Elaine Wilson and her father Richard Wilson.

The harp is just a magical sounding instrument and she played it beautifully. It was so calming and ethereal. Considering everything that has been going on in the world as of late, this was a welcome and happy event partly due to the environment enhanced by Elaine and Richard. Music just transforms an event! She is for hire, check out her site.

Elaine Wilson playing the harp

This family stopped to enjoy watching Elaine pluck away on her harp.

I think they were enjoying the music

Elaine playing the violin with her father playing guitar, Richard Wilson.

Elaine and Richard had CD’s for sale.

Sharing a space was Elaine’s sister, Ellen Wilson. A true family affair here! Ellen made specialized organic herbal blend teas. I loved the names she had for them. Here’s a few names “If I only had a Brain tea”, “Sweet Rest” and another was “Happy Ladies Tea”, I think I need that one! haha… There were more photos, but they were out of focus, dang. I’m not sure what all the letters after her name means but I’m sure they’re important so I’m listing them here. Ellen Wilson, M.H., C.H.S. The Wilson’s are out of Fairfield, Illinois.

Ellen Wilson M.H., C.H.S. owner of Ellen’s Herbal Teas

Next up across the stairs from The Wilson’s booth was Tony Treadway Clay. Tony and Christy Treadway are new residents to New Harmony and this was their first show here at Christmas in New Harmony. Tony is the artist in residence for New Harmony and his work is just beautiful. I loved it all, but was especially fond of the Japanese Maple leaves theme he had.

Tony and Christy Treadway

I love this design of Japanese Maple leaves

Treadway Clay designs

Pottery by Treadway Clay

Across from Tony was Tiffany Piazza owner of Dharma Cowgirl. Tiffany was here last year and continually has beautiful handcrafted jewelry and such a cool booth! She and her husband make all the display racks. Not only gorgeous, her jewelry is hand crafted from fine silver and gemstones making each piece unique and special. She had so many pretty pieces I could not pick just one favorite but many! But the evil eye earrings were begging me to bring them home… and the bracelets and the necklaces!

Tiffany Piazza of Dharma Cowgirl

The Evil Eye Earrings – Photo courtesy of dharmacowgirl.com

This blurry photo just doesn’t do this beautiful necklace justice.

Dharma Cowgirl earring display – How cool is that?!

The bracelet display is just as cool, huh?

Wow this has turned into a long post, but I knew it would be. Are you still with me?

Across from Tiffany is another jewelry artist. The mother and daughter duo, the Rappee’s . Yes, that is technically two more jewelry vendors, but that’s the great thing about shopping artisan handmade at shows like Christmas in New Harmony. Each and every artist has such a different style and technique, there is something for everyone.

I’ll start with Sue Rappee. Sue has beautifully crafted silver and copper jewelry in natural type of themes, like leaf motifs. Beautiful beadwork and also mystic type of things like the beautiful chakra necklace below. To reach Sue email her at csrappee [at] yahoo.com.

Here is Sue Rappee with some of her bracelets.

Feeling good vibes from these Chakra necklaces?

Aren’t they gorgeous?!

Now here is Sara Rappee. Sara works with stone and silver. She grinds, shapes and polishes each stone. She has lovely wire work that is uniquely her own.

Sara Rappee, jewelry artist

beautiful pendant by Sara Rappee

Sara’s and Sue’s booth

Finally, we have Becky Kiesel’s beautiful hand crafted jewelry made using Italian brass hardware that she obtained from Karges Furniture, a very high end furniture company that has since gone out of business. I’ve never seen anything quite like Becky’s pieces and they were absolutely gorgeous. She was so nice and her display was beautiful. Becky doesn’t have a website yet, but I think her work can be found at The Red Lantern, a gallery in the restaurant The Red Wagon in Poseyville, Indiana. If you would like to contact her, Becky’s email is bjkiesel [at] twc.com.

Becky Kiesel at her display of cool jewelry made from Italian brass

Necklace with the keys are so cute!

Ornaments so pretty, keep them up all year!

Becky Kiesel again, she was my booth neighbor and very friendly 🙂

So we’re back around to my booth. You’ve seen it many times, but hey, here it is again. I sold the koi fish and a leaf painting on the other side 😀

One side of my booth.

I hope you enjoyed the virtual tour and visit the links of all the fabulous artists that I featured here. One artist I neglected to get a photo of her booth and that was because she was downstairs and I honestly just forgot. Kotah Moon is a fabulous metal artist and I have a growing collection of her work. Here is my latest that I acquired at the show, The Tree of Life and I love it.

Tree of Life

You never know what you’ll see at Christmas in New Harmony… See you in the spring! My next show is Spring Fling March 19 & 20th 2016!

A puppeteer that was selling his puppets downstairs.

The Historic Rapp-Owen Granary in New Harmony, Indiana

If you’re new to my blog and website have a look at my ‘About’ page in the menu at the top. I’m an artist – a painter mostly and an avid gardener. I paint a variety of subjects including birds, koi fish, my gardens, ponds and flowers as well as anything having to do with nature especially trees and tropical scenes. I also enjoy painting abstracts in the form of expressionism. If you’re interested in my art, I have a newsletter mailed about once a month that gives you special status for invitations, birthday greeting and more. Sign up here for it.

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2 Comments

Julie Valier
on November 10, 2016 at 11:22 am

Hi , thank you for your wonderful pictures. I was in New Harmony “a million years ago” as a teen with my family. I enjoyed the time greatly. I was hoping to bring my dear friend up there for a couple of nights as a holiday gift. Looking to do some type of pottery class… as an activity, any suggestions?
Thank you,
Julie Valier

Hi Julie, I’m so glad to hear you’re coming back to visit New Harmony and bringing a friend. You both will have a wonderful experience. Much has changed in New Harmony even in recent years, so you will find yourself seeing all kinds of new things and experiencing fun and delicious places.

There are a couple places that I can think of that might offer some creative classes like you are looking for. My friend and potter, Tony Treadway of Treadway Clay may know and I’ve put in a question to him. He may even offer up classes. I’ll keep you informed.

A great place to start from afar is the New Harmony Business website which is here.

The Christmas celebration starts with Christmas in New Harmony the first weekend of December. I’ll be in the granary which is on Granary St. Plus there is a multitude of fun things going on starting with the lighting of the Christmas tree on that Friday, a parade Saturday morning and of course the Artisans Market (in the Granary) and a craft show in the gym. You can find out more on my events page including a map of the town.

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Artist, dreamer, gardener and nature nut. I love iced tea, music, scary ghost movies, growing all kinds of plants especially tomatoes and houseplants and enjoying my life in the country with my husband, son and our 3 cats and dog.
Find me in my art studio attached to my greenhouse painting all the beauty that surrounds me.